So how does HR focus Wal-Mart’s leaders operationally? With
the help of top executives, HR identified the 11 core leadership
competencies that are most important to the success of Wal-
Mart’s operations. These operational competencies are
categorised as “people skills” and “work processes.” The five
“people skills” are: communication, developing others, motivating
others, customer focus, and listening. The six “work processes” are:
continuous improvement, sense of urgency, team development,
organisation/planning, expectations/accountability, and
resolving problems. Wal-Mart’s leaders, to this day, integrate
the 11 core leadership competencies into: interviewing, hiring,
orientation, training, position descriptions, employee opinion
surveys, performance appraisal, and consideration for
promotional opportunities.